I started my semester abroad in Prague, Czech Republic a month ago. Actually, it was just under a week ago, but my lack of sleep had drawn out days and nights to culminate into one large confusing lump of time.

I had every intention of doing this whole jet-lag thing right, after all, I have traveled abroad to Europe before. I knew I needed to sleep on the overnight flight across the pond and upon arrival in Prague. I was prepared for bed by 7 p.m. so that I could wake up by 7 a.m. receiving a full twelve hours of sleeps before a long first of orientation and exploration. I took a shower, lathered myself in lavender essential oil and laid my head on the pillow by 7 p.m., just as planned.

About fifteen minutes had passed, and my roommates who climbed into bed around the same time had already succumbed to a light snore and stillness. I, on the other hand, became restless, distressed with the idea that I might not get enough sleep tonight and anxious with the thought I might not get enough sleep tonight and anxious with the thought that I might never adjust — mentally, physically, emotionally. I got out of bed each hour and walked around the apartment before I decided that THIS was it.

THIS time I was going to fall asleep. You got this, Emily! THIS is your time!

The above routine was repeated about seven times before finally getting asleep at 3 a.m. I woke up anxious and upset. Why couldn’t I fall asleep like everyone else? This wasn’t how I had planned it out! My brain had been exhausted, but my body wasn’t.

The next several nights looked a lot like the first. Each time, I got out of bed less, but consistently could not sleep until 3 a.m. Now, on day six, I’m tired of being frustrated and I’m choosing to learn how to forgive. Forgive my body for not working the way I wanted.

Frustration got me nowhere. It caused pain and distraction. I missed out on things that I would have otherwise appreciated because I was preoccupied on trying to plan another method to prepare myself for sleep. It was time to ditch that and move forward.

Forgiveness is the first step in moving forward. Whether it is someone who hurt your feelings, or an expectation was not met, and especially when things do not go as planned, we must forgive. When studying abroad, you do not have the control you are used to in the United States. You are stripped bare of comforts you didn’t even know you relied on. You have to keep moving forward; you have to forgive yourself.

Exactly one month ago today I was on a plane flying across the Atlantic to my new home in Lyon, France. The most shocking aspect of studying abroad is not the language, or the culture, or getting lost and deciding you will never find your way home because you don’t have internet (I was only one block away from my apartment, as it turns out). The most shocking part of study abroad is that somehow, three months from now, I will have to pack up my bags and leave behind a city that I have come to love.

Now, a little background on myself so that you understand where I started. The reason I am studying in France is because it is a huge goal of mine to graduate trilingual (English, Spanish and, now, French). I had studied French for a total of 12 months before arriving in France, which means my French was (if I’m being very generous) elementary. Therefor, coming into France, I wanted to be challenged like never before. Well, when I took the placement test here, I was placed into a class of people who have studied for years, have lived in French speaking places and who are very close to being fluent. Challenge acquired. Furthermore, I am living in an apartment building that is filled with French students in an area that is far from the tourist sites. Did I mention that I wanted a challenge? For the past three weeks, I struggled to keep up in class, struggled to order food at the restaurants, struggled to figure out lease agreements, and then struggled a bit more.

Let me share some embarrassing moments so you can understand where I started. I once ordered two croissants and I thought I heard the woman behind the counter say “douze (twelze) euros”. I was very confused why it costed so much, but nevertheless handed over a ten-euro bill and a coin worth two euros in order to pay the total. Imagine my surprise when the woman stared at me for a solid minute, and then proceeded to hand the ten-euro bill back to me. What she had actually said was “deux (two) euros. Yes, I tried to pay six times the amount for croissants. One time, I tried to buy groceries and then realized they don’t hand out plastic bags here, so I walked half a mile home with groceries in my arms. Furthermore, I cannot even count the amount of times somebody said something in French and I just had to stare at them for a minute because all I could think was “I honestly didn’t hear a single word that I recognized.”

Today, however, was special. Today, I emailed my apartment manager (in French!) to figure out how to pay rent. I went to the office and had a conversation that lasted a whole three minutes (in French!) to figure out how to pay rent. I went to my favorite boulangerie (bakery) and ordered my food for the day (in French!). Here’s the best part, the moment that made today even more incredible: After paying for my bread, the woman behind the counter said “À demain (see you tomorrow)!” After four weeks of getting lost (physically and in-translation) the fact that my favorite baker recognized me as a regular at their store made me positively giddy. In my mind, there have never been two finer words that “À demain” spoken to me. For four weeks, Lyon has been a challenge of ultimate proportions, and although I have no doubt it will continue to be a challenge, those two words also made Lyon feel just a little like home.

Over winter break, I spent two weeks immersing myself in the lifestyle and culture of Costa Rica for a study abroad trip with the Sinclair School of Nursing. I was able to stay with an amazing homestay family and practice my Spanish speaking skills as well as learn about the country’s healthcare, education, economy and environment. Going in, I did not know what to expect, but I thought I would find a healthcare system lacking resources and quality of care that we have in the United States. However, I was pleasantly surprised to find a health care system that starts at the very basic foundation of health in the community, increasing the health of the entire nation.

Mi familia tica (my host family).

Costa Rica has a universal healthcare system that allows access to all people. The healthcare system of Costa Rica does a great job of educating the population about preventative measures to reduce the risk of preventable diseases. Their focus on primary care blows the United States out of the water, with home visits and patient education to prevent diseases from ever occurring. The United States has a more curative approach. We wait for the patient to get sick and them try to fix everything with the body, which is expensive and leads to other health complications. Another difference is that vaccination of all children is mandatory by law in Costa Rica. This has helped reduce the rates of several preventative diseases in the community as well. I found it interesting to compare both healthcare systems to each other and develop my own ideas of an ideal system. Overall, the trip was eye-opening and I have adapted several lifestyle changes to my own life, including taking care of my health and diet.

Over the weekend before the mad rush of exams, I went to Sweden. I wasn’t really there to visit any cities or go on any excursions. I went for one goal in mind, to meet my biological family for the first time. A little background about me. I was born in Sarajevo, Bosnia, right after the Bosnian War and immigrated to the United States when I was a baby. In 2003 I was placed in emergency care along with my sister, and I spent six years in the foster care system in St. Louis. Growing up I only thought I had family in St. Louis; my biological mom and dad. This past summer I received an emergency phone call from the police that my biological father passed away from a heart attack. It cam as a shock because I never really got to know my dad. I was adopted in 2009 and every year I thought I would reach out to him, but life got in the way.

It was when my cousin reached out to me after his passing that I was able to connect with some of my family. Now, jump to Christmas. I was sitting in my room looking at plane tickets for where to go for winter break and found a cheap flight for four days and let my cousin know I was coming. Before going I was super nervous and anxious about it. Not a lot of adopted kids get this opportunity, but fortunately for me, I have two incredible adoptive parents that have supported my curiosity to meet my birth family. I landed at Gothenburg airport around 11 p.m. Wednesday. I collected my bags and went through customs. Walking around the barrier I was immediately greeted by my other seven-year-old sister, my uncle and one of my cousins. A short drive later I would meet the rest of my family.

What was so significant about this weekend was hearing stories about my biological dad and my uncle when they were young men. I learned what it was like for them during the Bosnian War, that my father survived a concentration camp and my uncle had 32 bullets in him and survived fighting in the war. I met my Nena and Dedo, who hadn’t seen me since I was a baby in Sarajevo and greeted me with open arms. I think that what made this weekend so great was the fact that they didn’t make me choose between my adoptive family and my biological one; which can sometimes be the case for adoptive kids. They accepted them open arms as well. It was my Dedo that said in Bosnian, “Tell Clint (my dad) I view him as a son for taking such great care of you.” Him saying that made my heart soar, because the two people who mean the most to me are my mom and dad. The weekend was filled with lots of laughed, a few tears and loads and loads of Bosnian food. I think I gained 10 pounds just from eating my Nena’s cooking. So far, studying abroad, I think, has been my most life-changing experience.

If you are living in the residence halls, you will still be able to check-in on Monday. If you have any questions, please contact Residential Life at housing@missouri.edu.

As a reminder, all students must attend an immigration check-in session. Please be sure to sign up for a session that works for your schedule.

Information for current international students

Morning walk-in advising for international (F-1/J-1) students will be canceled Tuesday, Jan. 15.

]]>https://insights.missouri.edu/international-center-closed-monday-jan-14-international-student-welcome-rescheduled/feed/0Applications open for 2019/20 Bond International Scholars Awardhttps://insights.missouri.edu/applications-due-feb-15-for-2019-20-bond-international-scholars-award/
https://insights.missouri.edu/applications-due-feb-15-for-2019-20-bond-international-scholars-award/#respondFri, 11 Jan 2019 14:30:18 +0000MU International Centerhttps://insights.missouri.edu/?p=13733Want to see the world, gain global skills and accelerate your degree completion? The Bond International Scholars Award is a competitive scholarship opportunity available to all MU students participating in a semester or academic/calendar year MU study abroad program. The award offers five $5,000 scholarships toward the cost of an MU study abroad program to full-time undergraduate or graduate students. Contact Heidi Prillwitz (prillwitzh@missouri.edu) with any questions.

How to apply:

If you are applying for a fall 2019 or academic year 2019/20 study abroad program, complete the International Center scholarship application as part of your study abroad program application. Applications due Feb. 15.

If you will be applying for a spring or calendar year 2020 study abroad program, please find instructions within your spring or calendar year 2020 application once you begin it. These applications will be open in March, and will be due Sept. 20.